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| Feb. 5–9. |
395. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Peter Coxe, reported very skilful in the art of navigation, desires to be a factor, referred. Advance of salary to Mr. Tyndall, a preacher. Placing of the generals, preachers, and factors. Mr. Sharpie to deliver the King’s letters and presents to the Princes and Governors in India; his apparel to be made, or an allowance granted. Agreement with Wm. Revett for 4l. per month, and 10l. provision to sea. Refusal of Thos. Blage to go as master’s mate. For payment of imprests. The ships not to stay at Gravesend, but sail directly for the Downs. Compensation to the master of a hoy for damages. The worser sort of ryals to be carried to India, “being better cheap than the others.” Permission to John St. Andrew, an adventurer of 550l., to go the voyage without any allowance. |
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Feb. 9.—Sir Henry Lillo, an adventurer of 137l. 10s., under Stephen Harvey, sworn a free brother. Agreement with Ralph Wilson to go as master’s mate. Head pieces, targets, and corslets to be sent to India for presents to the Princes. Admission of Abraham Cartwright, an adventurer of 200l. under Thos. Symonds. Ordnance to be taken out of the Tower. [Three pages. Court Bk., II., 75–76] |
Feb. 10.
Madrid. |
396. John Jude to Thos. Wilson. Arrival of an ambassador from the King of Persia, with rich presents to the King and Queen of Spain. It is thought he comes to incite the King to some enter–prize against the Turk, and to join in confederation with the King of Persia for that purpose. [Extract from Corresp., Spain] |
| Feb. 12–26 |
397.Court Minutes of the East India Company. Duplicate of the commissions to Sharpie and Rowles to remain with the former until their departure. Ordnance had out of the Tower to be tried. For taking the ships to Blackwall, and sending one or two of “our people” overland from Aden or Cambaya, by way of the Caspian Sea, for England; but nothing concluded. Four gowns of cloth of silver, and one of velvet, offered for sale by Sir Henry Lillo, to be used as presents in India. Liberty of private trade to factors; conditions. |
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Feb. 16.—Bonds in the deputy’s custody. The Earl of Cumberland’s request concerning interest of the money supplied by his brother. Tristram Eldrick’s accounts. Old stores to be appraised. Bills of adventure for the third voyage. Mr. Lyng’s accounts. Those owing money to the old stock, due at Michaelmas last, to be charged 10 per cent, interest. Founders’ Hall not to be used after Lady Day next. Letters and directions for the Indies touching the third voyage. To prevent confusion in the accounts of the third and fourth voyages. 30l. to Mr. Sharpie for his apparel extraordinary. Sir Henry Middleton’s cloth of gold offered for 30s. a yard, unfit for the Company’s use. Offer of Capt. Mellis, of Plymouth, to go as a pilot. |
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Feb. 19.—Agreement with Gabriel Brooke to go the voyage as a voluntary man, at 20s. a month. Men appointed to stay aboard the ships day and night, to see things faithfully done. Request of Phillip de Graeff (Grove), master of the Ascension, to have the same authority as when he went with Sir Jas. Lancaster or Sir Henry Middleton; committee to confer with him. Capt. Mellis to be hired to assist the general. Request of old Lady Cumberland to be an adventurer this voyage; to be accepted on bringing in 110l. or upwards. Two Indians waiting upon Sir Edward Michelborne, who are “sufficient sailors, and skilful in the sounding in the Indies by the earth and fish if need be in any fog,” to be hired if Sir Edward is willing to depart (sic) with them. Order to buy certain caps, esteemed a profitable commodity in the Indies. For auditing Tristram Eldrick’s accounts of the fourth voyage. |
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Feb. 22.—Adventurers in the third voyage agree not to send any ships to India until those return which were sent last year, or certain knowledge of them had. Committee to consider of letters and instructions for Bantam, on account of the third voyage. Adventurers of the fourth and fith voyages, “loth to be any way distastefull,” content to admit any of the former adventurers in the third voyage. |
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Feb. 23.—Sir Edward Michelborne desires that his Indians may never be sent home to their country, but rather carried to some other places ; the younger having lately ran away, Sir Edward has a warrant to apprehend him. Dearness of the caps to be purchased of Mr. Leate; order to buy 10 or 12 dozen for a trial. Mr. Diggins offers to go in the ships to the Land’s End and to nominate a pilot for the Union. Officers before going to sea, to give an inventory of all things they have received to Mr. Sharpie. Richard Mellis hired as master’s mate at 5l. a month and 20l. imprest. |
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Feb. 26.—All men in the ships to be mustered, and those “found unneedful or insufficient by their weakness, or otherwise,” to be displaced. Accounts for provisions to be brought in. Any wishing to increase their adventure of 550l. to do so out of hand. Thos. Stephens to see what is owing to Grove upon former voyages. Private trade to the amount of 25l each allowed to Samuel Broadshawe, a factor, and Simon Tyndall, preacher. 26s. 8d. per cwt. allowed for cordage. Entry to be made in the Custom House of all goods sent this fourth voyage. The ships to fall down to Wolledge [Woolwich] on Wednesday next; the ships’ companies to be then ready. [Twelve pages and a half. Court Bk., II., 76–82.] |
